Record changing mechanism



Nov. 4, 1952 J. ERWOOD EI'AL 2,615,702

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 K f U W f z SA'H 17 7 3 Jds eph Erwoo 3 Joh n Erwoo By y Ame 9 Home q s J. ERWOOD EI'AL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Nov. 4, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1945 Invenfors Joseph firm/000 & John firm 00d .5 :JW, W, 7 a -ab 9 Hffo/"negs & s W s d w 1, fm 6 n .o 1 4 W s 05 A 2 a m r,

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s 7 wn m] J J f 1952 J ERWOOD ETAL RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1945 7 Nov. 4, 1952 J. ERWOOD ETAL 2,616,702

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Fi1ed April s, 1945 1 s Sheets-Sheet 4 v an; m/

[nvenfor v v Joseph Erwooa John E Wood IW,%2W 0% Nov. 4, 1952 .1 ERWOOD ETAL 2,616 0 RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed April 6, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet s Invenfars Joseph fr'wooc/ & John Ema/00d 1952 J. .ERWOOD ETAL 2,616,702

RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Fil ed April 6, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 [nvenfors -Joseph E/"wood & John Erwood y w W I Qfforneqs Patented Nov. 4, 1952 RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM vJoseph TErwood and 'John Erwood, "Chicago, 111,, assignors, by mesne assignments, to William J. McGah, astrustee -,Application-April6, 1945,-.Serial Nolssaseo v "3 Claims.

:1 v The presentvinvention relates generallyto .intermittentfeed apparatus and refers moretparticularly to .phonographic record changing mechanism for delivering ,phonograph Irecords successively into operating ,position .in record playing apparatus.

Automatic record -.playing and changing apparatus may-comprise meansfordelivering record discs successively from'a stack ormagazine to a motor driven recordrplaying turntable, in combination with means (ion-applying .and .withdrawing a sound pickup-device rto .andirom the recorddisc, at properly :timed, intervals whereby to play the record and i-toretract the pickupjdevice from the recordandmoveit toa stand-by .,p osition at theendof the playing operation, in

order to allow'a-succeeding record-to bedeliveared on the turntable in position .to'be played.

An important object (ofthe-presentinvention ..is to provide improved and simplifiedrecordlplaying and changingeapparatus having a minimum number of operating parts facilitating-assembly thereof in the ,provision .of low-cost record changing-apparatus requiring minimumrcare, and adjustment, i and aifording improved perform- .ance.

Another importantobject. .is to provide. record changing apparatus-adapted normally to be retained in cocked, yet inactive condition, ;while -a record is beingplayed thetmechanismgbeing rendered active, at thecon'clusionbtthe playing .of a record, to .delivera successive record to be played upon the turntable and to return toinactive cocked position;wav further object being to provide manually operable ..means for releasing the change mechanismlfor operationat any time duringthe playing of a record,.in order to. reject the same and deliver another .record in playing position.

Another important object .is .to provide simplified mechanism for raising, lowering and swinging the tone armpickup of: record playing mechanism as a part of a record changing cycle; a-iurther object .being to'raise and lower the tone arm bymeans of a cam actuated by the change mechanism .at predetermined,intervals during.its-operatingcycle; a further object being to swingingly-move. the-arm-Jat predetermined intervals in the operating-cycle of-the change mechanism by-means :of. a friction wheel and driving segment connected with the change mechanism. I

Another important -,-object is to ,provide .im-

rprovedvmeanstfor supporting a plurality ofirecords in positioniortdelivery .successively into ,maintain the stacked recordsincmaxial alignplaying pos'itionon the'turntable; afurther object beingito support the records in vertically stacked relationship and to deliver the same by pushing the edge) ofithenrecord, to'be delivered to the turntable, in a radial .direction to release .lthesame from the stack; a1further object :being to support-the recorjdstack above the turntable and to provide edge pushin mechanism in position to engage the -lowermost ,record in "the stack; a still furtherobject'beingto provide edge pushing mechanism conditionable to cooperate with records of various size by moving a man- .ually adjustable elementof theypusher mechanisin.

,Another importantobject islto support the record stack on a centerpin extendingcentrally of the turntable l and 1 having an r upwardly "facing shoulder to engage "the lowermost record in the stack, at its center,,and'toform the edgepushing mechanism to support .the.record stack at .the edge. of the"low ermost record.

, Another important object isto' form the center pin with an upper portion offset with respect to. the .lowerportion hot the; pin, :ther'eby providing oppositely? facing shoulders including anjupwardly facing shoulder ,atfthe' top "of the lower ,pinportion, and 1a downwardly: facing "shoulder at theolower ,end of 'the;upperg pin portion, said shouldersibeing,separatedpthe approximate width of a record, theupper pin portion serving "to ment by extending snugly .in *the central "perforations ofthe records, the lower "record presting nponthe upwardly facing shoulder'and: being ...movable;beneathLsaid downwardlyiacing"shoul- ,der. into' position aligning its opening with the .lowerpin ,portion to;releaseit "from said up- ,wardlyjfacing shoulder, therebyrallowing'the recrorid to 'dropby jgrav'ity on the turntable.

Another object is"',to;fpro'vide manually adjust- ..able means including ,a stop.arrangeable in any selected. one, of anumber of controlgpos'itions for ,determining the position ofithetone arm .at the .start. of ,a "record playing operation sothat the ideviceimay' 'be setto playrecords .of various size; a .iur'ither obj ect' being "to provide for the positioning-of thetone,arm;.by=operation ofthe stop sagainstra cooperating. latch du'ring the .operating cycle of the change, mechanisms and "to release said latch atthelconclusionlof the operating cycle Lofcthe mechanism, wherebylijthe arm ,maythen move freely across the turntable in playing a record.

Another object is to. form .thezlatch" to receive ,the stopiin' any .selecte'done of aplur'a'lil ypf latch detents representing the various possible tone arm starting positions in combination with means actuated by operation of the manually adjustable element of the edge pushing mechanism to select, for operation with the stop, the latch notch corresponding with the record size, for which the edge pushing mechanism may be adjusted.

Another object is to provide improved tripping means for releasing the change mechanism for operation when the tone arm reaches the limit of its record playing movement and also if the arm, before reaching such limit, should receive a rocking movement such as may be applied thereto, upon contact with an eccentric record groove at the termination of the playing grooves of the record, as applied in many standard records, the tripping mechanism also being operable at will for record reject purposes.

Another important object is to provide means for releasing the change mechanism for the performance of its record changing cycle of operation, automatically, at the conclusion of the playing of a record on the turntable, such release being accomplished by tone arm movement at the conclusion of the playing of a record; a further object being to provide for manually releasing the change mechanism for record rejecting purposes during the playing of a record; a further object being to provide for locking the change mechanism in cocked, inoperative position whereby the apparatus may be conditioned to function as if not provided with automatic record change mechanism; a still further object being to provide a single, simple, manual control for accomplishing the foregoing settings, said manual control preferably comprising a slide movable in either direction from a neutral position and serving, when moved in one direction, to operate the change mechanism for reject purposes, and when moved in the other direction, to lock the change mechanism for non-automatic operation, the control slide, when in neutral position, affording automatic operation of the record changing device.

Another important object is to actuate the record changing mechanism by means of a driving cam driven by the turntable motor; a further object being to form the cam directly upon the underside of the turntable; a still further object being to employ a cam of spiral configuration and to drive the record changing mechanism by means of a cam follower forming a part of the change mechanism.

A further object is to provide the change mechanism with a pair of cam followers, preferably comprising pins normally retained in retracted position whereby the change mechanism may be retained in inactive, yet cocked, position ready to perform ts record changing cycle, one of said pins being released to engage the spiral cam at the conclusion of the playing of a record whereby to move the change mechanism to a projected position, said cam follower being relatched when the mechanism reaches such projected position, and the other being released for engagement with the cam to thereby return the change mechanism to inactive position, in which position said second cam follower is relatched whereby the change mechanism, after performing its operating cycle, is returned to the inactive starting position in which it is cooked and ready for a repeat performance.

Another important object is to employ the movement of the change mechanism in one direction to lift and return the tone arm to an inactive 4 or starting position and to then actuate the record changing mechanism, and to employ the movement of the change mechanism, in return direction, to swing and deposit the tone arm, in playing position, on the changed record.

Another important object is to provide for the release of the change mechanism by a latch re leasing cam formed on the turntable itself and to accomplish such release through a transfer member, which is normally held in inactive position, in which the latch releasing cam, which turns with the turntable, cannot engage and actuate the transfer member, said transfer member being movable into the path of the cam only when the tone arm reaches the end of a record being played or is rocked either manually or by engagement with an eccentric record groove, or when the reject button is operated, such latch releasing mechanism preventing accidental release of the change mechanism and insuring operation thereof only in the desired manner.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment selected for the purpose of demonstrating the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a phonographic record player embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial side View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in section to reveal the structural details thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a record support pin forming a part of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the turntable forming a part of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper portions of the record player with the turntable removed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View of the underside of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, the record changing mechanism being shown in the normal retracted and cooked position ready for the performance of a record changing cycle;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the record changing mechanism in the intermediate projected position occupied during the record changing cycle;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11, respectively, are sectional views taken substantially along the lines 99,

iii-18 and |l|l in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, as viewed from above;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of edge supporting and pushing mechanism forming a part of the record changing apparatus, the mechanism being shown in position adjusted for records of large size;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I i-44 in Fig. 13, showing the apparatus in its normal or inactive position.

Fig. 15 illustrates the apparatus shown in Fig. 14 in record ejecting position;

Fig. 16 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13 and illustrating the same in position adjusted for the accommodation of relatively small records;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I'|l'l in Fig. 16, showing the apparatus in normal inactive position;

estate ;Fig. 1 8 is a view-oftheldevice,as shotiih ih'Fig. 1'7, illustrating -the parts -in reco'rd ejecting i'p'osien; an

Fignl9-isa view of the device, as shown inFi'g. l4, illustrating the parts in position adjusted'to accommodate relatively large records.

To illustrate the inventionfthe drawi'ngs show a recordplayer H comprising asupportplate I3 carrying a record turntable adapted tab "support records IS in playingposition'thereon. Theturntable is mounted for rotation on the support plate about the axis of a 'central support I! secured on'the plate a,'the-turntabiebeiagprererably driven by an electrical motc ir'l9, which'is preferably supported by and on th'e iinderside of the plate 13, theJmotJor being'dr'ivin'g1y;cdhnected with a turntable driviiig when 21. This driving wheel may extend upwardlyof the plate lfs through an opening-22 in'tlieplatefahdforms frictional driving connection with 'thetiiriitable preferably by engagement witha rubberband 23 set-in a groove 24 formed at theperipheral edge of the turntable. The plate ISpreferabIyhas a central depression "25 formed therein, 'to "receive the turntablepthe upper record'supportii'ig'surface of which is supported inaplar'iebnlyslightly above the plane of the 'plate'portioris surrounding the depression. The turntable 'thus, in'a sense, is sunk into the plate [3. The wheel 21 may comprise an enlarged cylindrical "head, which maybe formed integrally on the shaft of the motor is, and the cylindrical surfaces of the head may be knurledor otherwise roughened for non-slip driving engagements/1th the'band23. Operation of the'motor I!) to drive"theturn table may be "controlled byineans'df a suitable switch 20, preferably mountedon'the plate l3, the switch having its manuallybperable'minber "exposed-for operation above 'the plateiah'dbeing electrically conne'te d, beneath the plate, in a suitable electrical motor energizing circuit.

The'plate l 3, outwardly of the' turntable, carlr ies a'pedestal Z 6on'which a to'nepickup arm This" pivoted for swinging movement "about the vertical axis of the pedestal. The arm is also mounted for movement about a horizontal aids at the t'o pof the pedestal so'that aprcmpueww at'the'swi'rigingend of steam ma be depressed to rest upon 'or may be lifted'frbfn"a"'ror'din playing position on'the'turntable "Ihepickup device on the arm 21, a: "course, may be'conriected with anysuitable sbuna'repr'o- 'ducing apparatus so" that'by applyirigthe pickup dei'iice to a' record'ionthe turntable and by energizing the'motorl'9'to rotate the same, theapparatus' may reproducethe sounds recorded "on the record.

,' Mechanism is proyided 'ff'the afitdiriatiddelivery of reeorasfuptn; the"turiitable in position tobeplayed by thapiclup device. Suchiifiehanismfmay comprise means forsupporting a stack of records 28 in pos ition to be delivered fsuccessively in playingposition upon the turntable, in combination with t emne --means 'for ejecting records, one by one, from the stack'and onto the turntable, To th'isend, the turntable support I? preferably comprisesa holldwbushing l e'upon the outer cylindrical surfaces of which thefturntable-isjournaled for rotation by the dr i ng wheel 2l. n I frigidlyupon theplate l3 andhas'acentral axial "bore for snugly,-"yet detachably, receiving the ver nd/ e 9sn ivi i i0 riefe s saidpinbeing formed with meansfor preventing relative rotation thereof in" the bushing 29.

This bushing is "fastened To this e l "d, "th'ecenter pinf3'0, at its lower end, inay'b'e' providedwith an axially extending slot 3| formed in"the"side of the pin and extendingfto the iowerienuthere r. I The bushing 29 may be providedwitha pin 32fhaving"an inner "ende'xteiiding intotheb'o're of "the "bushing in'position to engage the slot 3|, when the'ceriter pin-is inserted in the bushing, to therebyorient the cnter pin "and "determine its relative angular position with respect to the rest of the mecha- The center pin 30 has 'a lower "record guiding portion "33"an'dan offset record supporting portion "34, "said lower pin portion 33 "bein in 'c'o axial alignment'with 'the"a'xis of rotation ofthe turntable. The lower'pinportio'n33, at its upper end, provides an "upwardly fa'cin'g shoulder 35 en one'si'de of the'pin,'whilethe offset pin porti'on 34, 'at'its lower end, provides adownwardly facing shoulder'36 on the other side of the pin. The shoulders 35 and 36 are "spaced'apart a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of records tobe accommodated in the apparatus.

The foregoing arrangement of the pin allows it to 'function'as "-a means "for supporting the stack '28 of records to be played, the records comprising such'stac'k being carried in concentric alignment with the offset pin portion 34 extendthrough the aligned central'openingsof the records. 'Therecords, of 'course,'may be applied to the offset pin portion by inserting their aligned openings over the upper, preferably rounded, end ofthe pin portion and the'records are supported by the upwardly facingshoulder 35, which underlies the lowermost record at the central opening thereof.

It will be noted that all of the records in the stack '28, except the lowermost record, are positively held in concentric alignment with'the upper pin portion 34. "Since the downwardly facing shoulder '36 of said pin "portion *Bdis spaced from the upwardly facing shoulder 35 "a 'distance'slightly greater than the thickness of "a record, the lowermost record of the stack may be moved in a direction to align its central opening with the lower pin "portion 33. 'When so moved, the lowermost record will be free to fall, under the influence of gravity, in'a downward p'ath guided by the pin portion 33 and thus be"deposited"as a'record 16 on the turntable in position to be played.

In orderto thus'move the lowermost record in the stack 28 to release or eject it from the stack and deposit it by gravity in playing positionupon the turntable, edge pushing mechanism 31 is provided. This pushingmechani'sm t'l isshown more particularly in Figs. 13-19 of the "drawings and comprises a suitable, preferably sheetmetal, frame forming a pedestal38 mounted 'on the support plate I 3 outwardly of the edge of the turntable. The frame includes a project- :ing lippr'eferably'comprising a pair of tongues 39 in substantially "horizontal'alignment with 'the shoulder 35 and adapted to underlie the "marginal edge of the lowermost record of the record stack 28 when the records of such stack "are of relatively large size, such as standard twelve-inch phonograph records. The record stack thus is supported centrally on the shoul- "der35 of the centerpin'tfl and also marginally "by the spaced "tongues "39, thereby affording 'three point support" for the record stack.

\ The pedestal carries a"push'er arm 30 pivoted for rocking movement about a preferably horij2ontal' s upport pin"4 I ,'j which is "mounted in the "pedestal '38. The arm 40 has'anpnd *fitextend- 7 ing downwardly through a slot 43 in the plate l3 and has an upper end on which is pivoted a pusher finger 44, said pusher finger having a tip extending in a notch 45 in the lip 39 and being movable in said notch against the edge of the lowermost record in the stack 28 to thereby shift it in the stack in a direction to release said record from the shoulder 35 in order to allow it to drop downwardly along the pin portion 33.

In order to accommodate records of relatively small size, such as standard ten-inch phonograph records, the pedestal 38 carries a pivoted plate 48 mounted on pivots 49 in the bracket, said plate being normally arrangeable in the inactive position shown in Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings. When so positioned, the plate 48 is in position allowing the application of records of relatively large size in operating position on the lips 39. When it is desired to condition the apparatus to accommodate records of relatively small size, the plate 48 may be swung downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 16 to 19, in which it overlies the lip member 39 and provides lips :11 in position to underlie and support the edge of a stack 28 of relatively small size records. The plate 48 carries a pusher stem 5! having a pusher end disposed opposite the edge of the lowermost record supported on the lips 59, said stem 55 being normally held in retracted position by means of a spring 52. The inner end of the stem 5!, however, extends in position to be engaged by the pushing finger 44 on the lever 46 so that when it is desired to eject a record of relatively small size from the stack 28, the lever 49 may be moved thereby causing the finger id to press the stem 5! in a direction to engage the edge of and move the lowermost record of the stack in a direction to release it from the shoulder 35.

The tiltable finger piece 44, when projected to push a record, engages an abutment 53 on the lever 48 to hold it in pushing position on the lever. The finger piece, however, may turn on the lever 48 in a direction to disengage the abutment 53 when the lever is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 17. A spring 54, however, normally urges the finger piece in a direction to engage the abutment as the lever is moved into its record pushing position.

The bracket 58 carries a record retaining flap 56 pivoted for movement on a pin 5'! and adapted to overlie upon the record stack 28 above the edge supporting lips in order to hold the stack upon the lips in position to insure engagement of the ejecting finger 44 with the edge of the lowermost record in the stack, when the lever 42 is moved to release such record. The flap 56 may be raised to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 17 in order to allow the insertion of the record stack 28 in operating position on the pin 39 and the lips 39 or 53. If desired, overcentering spring means may be applied to resiliently hold the flap in raised and in record holding positions.

The pedestal 33 also carries pivoted thereon a lever 58 having an end projecting through a slot 59 in the plate i3 and an end 6| extending adjacent the top of the pedestal in position to be engaged by a projection 62 on the member 48. The lever 58 may be interconnected, beneath the plate I3, with mechanism for determining the starting position of the tone arm 21, the lever 58 serving to position the tone arm to commence the playing of a large twelve-inch record, automatically, when the member 48 is in raised position, as shown in Fig. 14. When the member 48 is in the depressed position shown in Fig. 19, the lever 58 serves to position the tone arm correctly for the playing of a record of small size.

In order to correlate operation of the record changing mechanismv 37 with record playing movement of the arm 21, simplified mechanism is provided. This mechanism operates automatically for record changing purposes by first lifting the tone arm from a record being played, then swinging it outwardly of the record on the pedestal 25 to a stand-by position entirely clearing the turntable. In its cycle of operation, the record changing mechanism then aotuates the pusher mechanism 3! to deposit the lowermost record of the stack 28, in playing position, on the turntable. Finally, the change mechanism moves the arm 21 inwardly of the turntable and drops it upon the record in position to start playing the same.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 6-12 of the drawings, the change mechanism includes a movable frame 64 on the underside of the support plate 13 and pivoted for swinging movement about a pin 65, which is fastened to the plate. This frame comprises an operating member periodically movable under the driving influence of the motor l9 and cooperatively associated with the tone arm to raise and swing the same to stand-by position upon the completion of the playing of a record, said operating member also serving to actuate the record feeding mechanism 3! and, after delivery of a record in playing position on the turntable, to swing and drop the tone arm upon the turntable in position to commence the playing of the record.

Novel latch control means is provided for drivingly connecting the operating member 64 with the motor I!) at the conclusion of the playing of a record or at any time during the playing of a record, subject to the will of the operator, in order to initiate and carry out the record changing cycle of operation of the apparatus. Improved and simplified means is provided for raising and swinging the tone arm 21 in response to movement of the operating member and for determining the starting position in which the arm is dropped, by the mechanism, upon a record to be played. As a further refinement, simplified means is provided for latching and thus securing the operating member in stand-by position to thereby disable the record changing apparatus and to allow the record playing mechanism to function with the automatic record changing equipment inoperative.

To this end, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the tone arm support pedestal 26 forms a vertical bearing for an arm supporting tube 66, which is turnable within the the pedestal 25. One end of the tube 66 extends at the upper end of the pedestal and carries a bracket 6'! above the pedestal. The tone arm 21 is pivotally mounted on the bracket by means of a horizontal pivot pin 68, there being a counterbalancing spring 69 mounted on the pin 68 and pressing in opposite directions upon the bracket 61 and tone arm to thereby resiliently assist in counterbalancing the weight of the tone arm.

The tube 66 has an end extending outwardly of the pedestal beneath the support plate I3, said end carrying an arm or blade H extending radially outwardly of the tube and turnable therewith. The tube 66, adjacent the arm II, also than? pulley 12, being drivin ly connected with the tone. arm, Willmove therewith.

Vertically movable withinthe bore of the tube 6,6...is a pin '13 having a head 14 extendin Outwardly or the tube 66 at, the. end thereof beneath theplate l3.. The. other end; of,the pin 13 extends outwardly of the tubebfi at the bracket 61in position to engage a shoe 'Hlwl lieh may conveniently comprise the head of a screw threaded into and forming a part of thetone arm. By moving the pin 13, axially in the tube or sleeve 6.6,. the elevation of the arm 2 l with respectto the turntable may be adjusted. 13y pushing the pin 13 upwardly, the arm Zlmay. be swung upwardly on its pivot 68 and, conversely, by lowering the pin 13, the, tone. arm alsomay be'lowered ontothe turntable.

The operatingmember 69 preferably comprises a metal plate having. apair of arms. 16 formed thereon at one end of the member. Themember 6.4 at its opposite end, forms a. segmental plate 11 having a circular edgef'li! centering on the pivotpin 65, said edge extending into. position tocooperate. with the pulley 11in: order to turn thesame and the tone arm 2.! in response to pivotal movement of the operating memberabout the pin 65.. Fastenedto the member 64 and movable. therewith about the axis of the pin 65 is. a se mental plate 19 having an edge provided with anfupstanding flange in position to move beneath the headed end of the pin 13, said flange being curved about the axis. of thepin 65 as a center. The pin engaging edgeof. the flangeail forms a cam surface serving to raise and lower the pin 13in the. sleeve 66, and hence to raise and lower the tone arm 2]"as the plate 19,is moved back and forth beneath the pin 13 by the operating member with which it is. connected.

The pin 65 of course, is secured ontheplate l3 in any suitable or preferred fashion. The operating member 6A and the plate 19 may comprise sheet metal stampings, which may beseoured. t her y l mp ng he ame upon a bushing 81, as by. means of a clamping nut 8,2, themember (i4 and the plate 19 being secured in spaced relationship by means of a spacing. ring 83. The bushing 8,! forms a journal for pivotally su or n e mem e 6 one Pl o the p vot p n ,5.- i

The operating member 64 normally occupies the, stand by position illustrated in Fig, 6. durihg the playing of a record. The operating member is yieldingly retained in such stand-by position by means of a carnlatch comprising acam member 84 riveted or otherwise fastenecl uponthe membe wo hhod w h. e 'hot h 8. o he r o tio i o o tohfmm tr om s a lever. 65 pivotallyfsecured, as p 8L Onh bracket 8 3, saiclfbraeket in turn being secured, as at89, on. the plate. 13, The member 85 carries a cam following roller 90 and is'urged in a direction to e s h r e a hst' h an! me b 84, as by means of the spring 9!, connected between the roller carrying end of the lever and a finger orm ott hth racke 8,

he; rm the e a in mt o 64 Carry selectively operable clntch' devices '93 and}! for drivingly connecting the member with the motor t t show eo viot 9 too m s ro tao o i tt'a .5.1 ad p e to be ho d no;-

olly. in. re liaotoa h sit on n. hohrms but oasolo y oh r 'iet ioh nt po 'iti h h wh they. ma n e. ohdi'r d along;- a hwe 96 preferably comprisinga spiral groove formed in a n nohlememi erfldrivo i? t o rh oa twe ...coh*lthit t may l t a groove t. or the w se o thodjdi ot lt t! he turnbl I tooth? under d hereof SQ hown m particularly in Fig;. 4 oflthedravvingsr The spiral groove may be formed in an embossment 9.!

formed on the underside. of the tu rntabla and may. x endrom. th uterp rt h o he.

bossm ht tt rd'it o t'i a portion. h oh o m a. a .8.? Th roove. P abl s uni o m dea h ouehout s l hiirol hg hfl rom s ou erl o i o oi ooh g h llhe tnd tho roove At t n er 6. 1 h wev r, hoeroot rab y becQm S ha ower. n pro es a t n dep essin incline 9, Which merges into thesurf aee ef the en r and j ho hho o the roovte. clut h: de e 9. and. as. hown o por iou ar yiin i .1. f. h rawin s profo eb a oo io e a. bus ing. '09.. n 1.9 I s oured a one hereo J ohft o memb 6.4.; ashy u eb e. h ld n hll ifi fektdodkupon the bushin s an l m fthothmo n p aoo. lnoh oar'm 6 oi h memb .4; The bu h ngs. t. and. H pec ve y extend t oughbi ryed lot 1 and .83 o m in. the plat 3; he lotsl ll 'ahd. to? are. curved about the axis of. the pi "'t pin 95 h. h or; ahdtho shi' s W M. ha ends extending upwardly arm; ate 1e. immediol h nohth e mbossmoht; Sl of. the. turnta Eaoh. sh n N19,. 91; carries s. espective. pi E ia lymovable. therein with. an. end. o p tod. a h l wer ohitl. ottho bushi he i 53 a evohor ohsp o ec i at he o erends of. he. bus sf r. n geientj with re e ably le f prin means it moon oh the. mi i ia: 64. miservin yi di ly ol rse ho pins. h on unw rliditootion in. the ht ih i on hs. owever r fhrormallv r te ho ih ttroo -hoo a ai s h i fi 'o of h p in lflohfis 19 by. la hes. I95. d i fif otthos hey. om ri v at L0], inllateral slots} 08: fermed the bushings. The latches are yieldingly urged as bysp U19 ina. directi t n rmohysoatin irclin ential latch grooves [1.0 formed in the retractable pins 95. 95" ovr lfl ioh i 19h ho ier the em vod fl li l tho nf- 11 3 93 f. the Sprin U1 t lths he, 'ns v .5 :51 o p o ectin m v thght h. thei upp r b shin nd r h hflhe to ho' o l' heonsluo.

'By releasing the latch I95, the, pin 9 5 01 the flu ee s moi; be Proioo edihtol n ag meht w h. h oute po t hsoftho srooizeet, thereby causing theo erat ng'momber 6 tomove tr m tahd-byfposit h, shown n Fi 6-. to the proj c ed o toh. hown. in Rig-"s. wh n uch t et tdhosi iohh o ohoi he dr vin pin. 9.5 of: the th. member. thr l/t e he. iho' ih portion at 'ofithe groiove ohto the land '38 thereby il h' 2 R n it tttroo .oo i it ttt 't bl. lo' h e o hoth s. h om o o -t position hown 1 Fig t fthel a oh we win h ehas d by n, otheh with a h. re sih s o with. om ii I a lug truck downwardly, f m the better}; of

t plate is." Role; 9 of the'latcli" i'eejwii p rmit th'e'pih' 17 5' of" the "@111 h member 95, tobe projected into opera v p uter Po ions. of. e roo e to h s returning e o ra n me ber 64 't tn gim eior stan b goted, as

by position shown in Fig. 6 by the operation of the groove 96 upon the projected pin of the clutch member 94. When the member 64 reaches standby position, the pin 95' of the clutch member 9d will be relatched as it rides up the groove incline 99 and onto the land 98, thus completing the operating cycle of movement of the member 64.

If desired, the groove engaging ends of the pins 95, 95, may be provided with cylindrical inserts I I2 for anti-friction wearing purposes in traveling the groove 96.

Latch tripping means is provided for tripping the latch member I to initiate the record changing cycle of the operating member 64, such latch tripping means comprising a tripping lever II3 pivotally secured on the end of a positioning lever I I4. The lever I I4 is pivoted, as at I I5, upon the plate I 3. The tripping lever H3 has an arm H6 in position to engage and trip the latch member I95 when the operating member 64 is in stand-by position, shown in Fig. 6. The tripping lever H3 is normally held in retracted position by means of a spring Ill, and said tripping lever has an end II8 which is bent and which projects through an opening H9 in the plate I3 into position within and adjacent the depending rim of the turntable, said rim carrying a latch tripping projection I29 thereon in position to engage the lever portion II8 as the turntable turns, providing the positioning lever is in the projected latch tripping position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

When the member 64 is in the stand-by position shown in Fig. 6, the positioning lever is resiliently urged toward latch tripping position by means of a spring pressed pin I2I carried by the operating member 64. The positioning lever, however, is held in retracted position by a holding lever I22 which is pivoted, as at I23, on the plate I 3. The lever I22 has a shoulder I24 adapted normally to extend in position to engage a projecting finger I25 formed on the positioning lever II4 to thereby hold the positioning lever in retracted position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, in which position the tripping projection I20 on the turntable clears the portion II8 of the tripping lever II 3.

A spring I25 yieldingly holds the lever I22 in position locking the positioning lever in retracted position. The lever I22, however, may be turned on its pivot I 23 against the influence of the spring I26 to release the positioning lever. I I 4. By thus moving the lever I22 from the normal or latching position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, to the position shown in dotted lines in said figure, the positioning lever II4 will be released for movement from its retracted position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 to its projected position indicated in dotted lines in said figure. Such projecting movement of the lever H4 is accomplished under the urge of the spring pressed pin I2I carried by the operating member 64. When in its projected position, the lever II I presents the latch tripping lever I I3 in position to be engaged by the latch tripping lug I20 on the turntable. This lug, as the turntable rotates, will repeatedly hit the portion II8 of the latch tripping lever only when the positioning lever is in projected position. Engagement of the tripping finger with the tripping lever I I8, however, will cause the same to release the latch I05 to initiate the operating cycle of movement of the operating member 64.

As soon as the operating member 64 moves away from cocked position, shown in Fig. 6,

after release of the latch I05, the positioning lever, being released by the pin I2I, will be returned to its retracted position by the action of the lug I29 on the tripping lever. When so returned to retracted position, the positioning lever will relatch with the shoulder I24 of the lever I22, which immediately after being released will return to latching position under the influence of the spring I26. Thus, the lever II l will become relatched in retracted position ready for a repeat latch tripping cycle after the operating member 64 shall have completed its operating cycle and shall have been returned to the initial or cocked position shown in Fig. 6.

Unlatching movement of the lever I22 against the bias of its spring I25 may be accomplished by direct engagement of the arm H with the lever I22 when the tone arm 21 is in position at the end of the playing of a record on the turntable. Unlatching movement of the lever I22 may also be accomplished by the lever II operating indirectly through a lever member I 27, which is pivoted as at I28 on the support plate I3. This lever member I 2! has a shoulder I29 adapted to press upon the lever I22 and move the same in a direction to release the shoulder I24 from the tongue I25, thereby releasing the positioning lever.

At the commencement of the playing of a record, the arm II will occupy a position approximately as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings. During the playing of the record, the movement of the tone arm radially or" the turntable, toward the center thereof, will cause the arm II to travel in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 8, to a position, at the conclusion of the playing of the record, substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. When it reaches such position, a lug I39 on the arm II will engage a pin I3I, or other suitable bearing on the lever I22 so that continued movement of the arm II will move the lever I22. to its unlatching position, to thus initiate the record changing cycle of operation of the operating member 64.

The arm II has an end which swings adjacent a preferably curved edge of the lever I27, said arm it being provided with means for moving the lever I2! to release the latch lever I22 at the completion of the playing of a record and also during the playing of the record.

To this end, the lever I 2! in its preferably curved edge facing the swinging end of the arm II is provided with a series of teeth I32 along said edge, while the arm II, at its swinging end, carries a tooth I33 pivoted on the arm. This tooth is connected with a relatively weak spring I 34 which serves yieldingly to hold the tooth I33 in position, at the swinging end of the arm, to engage the teeth I32 on the lever. So long as the arm II travels continuously and progressively in one direction during the playing of a record, the action of the tooth I33 will be to slide across the teeth without moving the lever I2? on its pivot, the spring I34 yielding to allow the tooth I33 to thus traverse the teeth I32.

Disc records are frequently provided with an eccentric groove into which the pickup device rides at the conclusion of the playing of the sound track of the record. When the pickup device enters such an eccentric record groove, the tone arm 2! and the arm II will be rocked back and forth. As the arm II is thus rocked backwardly from he position shown itn solid lines in Fig. 6, the tooth I33, being locked with one of the teeth 13 I32, will straighten itself on;v the arm II. and rotat'eathelever- I21 in a direction on its pivot to causethe lug I36 thereon toshift the lever I2 2 and thus unlatch the operating member 64 and release it for the performance of a. record changing cycle.

The lever I2 1 may be thus'actuated either by rocking movement of the arm-II- induced by engagement of the tone arm with an eccentric record groove, or by the-manual lifting and-rock ing of the tonearm duringthe playing of a record;

Means for moving the lever I21 manually is also provided, said means comprising a. slide bar I35; slidablymounted preferably on theunderside-of the-plate l3, as by-means of the pin and slot connection I36. The" slide bar has a lug I31 disposed in position to move the lever I2'I- when the slide bar'is-drawn in one-direction, fromthe neutral position illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8- of the drawings. The slidebar has a portion extending upwardly of the" plate I3 through aslot I38 therein, said upwardly extending portion being fitted with a finger piece I39. When the bar is in its neutral position, the change mechanism will bereleased for normal automatic operation, wherein the changing mechanism is set in operation at the conclusion of the playing of a record. The change mechanism may be caused to perform a record changing operation during the playing of a record by operating the finger piece I39 in one direction, and if said finger piece is operated from its neutral position in the. opposite direction, a lug I40 on the bar I35 will be disposed in position against the lever II4 preventing the same from moving under the influence of the pin I2I upon the operation of the release lever I22, thereby locking the change mechanism against: automatic operation. The bar I35 and its three-position finger piece I39 thus affords an exceedingly simple manual control operable to selectively condition the apparatus for automatic record changing operation or for manual operation of the phonograph; and the finger piece I39 allows the initiation of the record changing cycle at any time, as for the purposeof rejecting an unwanted. record after the playing of the same has commenced.

Upon release of the latch I05 at the completion of the playing of a record, or during the, playing of the, record, upon manual operation of the finger piece I39, the operating member 64, as a result of the successive actuation ofthe clutch devices 93 and 94, moves from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 8 and then returns to the initial or starting position, as heretofore described. During its movement from the starting position shown in Fig. 6, toward its projected position shown Fig. 8, the tone arm 21 will first be raised. by the operation of. the cam 80 on the pin I3. Thereafter, the tone arm 21 will be swung outwardly of the turntable to a stand-by position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, such stand-by position being determined by en agement of the arm II with a stop I'44. When in such stand-by position, the tone arm 21 clears the space immediately beneath the record. stack 28. This outward swinging movement of the tone arm is accomplished by the sleeve 66 and friction wheel I2 under the influence of its driving segment I1. As the operating member 64' reaches its projected position, a lug I4I thereon will engage with the end of an actuator bar I42, which is slidingly mounted preferably on the underside of the plate I 3, as by means of a'depending lug I43 on the plate and a;.slo t:. 51in. thebar; The bar I422 ex.- tend'szto and iscconnectiedwith.theactuatinglever 42.: of. the. record. delivery mechanism 31. The actuating lever 42 and, its actuating. bar I42; are normally held. in: retractedposition. by means of a-zspring I41 interconnected between the lever-42 and. the lug: I43; so. that the record edge pushing finger 44'. is. normally' held; in. retracted. position, but is actuated to deliver a record from the stack 28: onto:.the'turntable whenever the lug I4I shifts the actuator bar. I142; Arecord from the stack. 28 is thus-deliveredonto: the turntable as the operatingmember 6.4:. reaches the projected position shown in Fig. .8.

During its returnmovement from. projected to stand-by position, the operating member 64, throughthe action of the segment I1 and drivin pulley12 will move the tone: arm and the latch tripping arm inwardly-oi the turntable to astarting position determined, by an adjustable stop member I49 which will stop the inward move,- ment of? the tonearm. opposite the outer edge of the-recordto-beplayed: on the turntable. Thereaftenthe pulley 1.2 will be held against turning and the driving segment 11 will slip on the, pulley asztheoperating member 64 completes its returning. movement to. stand-by position. Such con,- tinued: movement. of the operating member after the tone arm. has reached, its starting position will; however, drop the tone arm upon the edge of. the record in position to commence the playing thereof. by the operation of; the cam 861ccneath the pin I3. As the operating member 64 thus drops the. tone arm on the record, it also actuates the stop. member I49. to release the arm for record playing. movement in. a direction toward the center ofthe turntable.

To this end, the stop member I49 comprises a lever having one or more stop shoulders I50 and I'5I, the lever being pivoted on the pin 81 on which. the cam. following. lever 86 is also pivoted. The lever I49 has a projecting tongue I53. in position to engage an. adjustable stop I54, which may be formed conveniently on a selector bar I55. This: selector bar is slidably mounted preferably on the underside of the plate I3 as by means of apin I56 on the bar and a slot I51 in the bracket 88. The bar I55. extends to and isconnected with the lever 58: of the record delivery mechanism 37 and may be connected with spring means I58. connected between the bar and the plate I3. to facilitate the sliding movement of the bar between its operating positions, shown in solid and in dotted lines in.- Fig. 8, when the lever 58 is moved by the adjustablemember 48 of the record delivery mechanism.

When said: adjustable member 46 is in its raised position, as shown. in Fig. 14, to accommodate relatively large size. records, the bar I may occupy the. position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 andin dotted lines; in. Fig. 8. When. the member 48 isin itslowered position, as shown. in Fig. 17, to: accommodate relatively small records, the bar I 55 may occupy the shifted position shown in solid lines in Fig. 8. The adjustable stop lever I 49 is normally urged, as by a spring I59 connected between a lug on the lever I48 and a lug on the cam following lever 86, in a direction toward astop lug I) on the arm 1 I, the movement of the lever I 49- under the influence of the spring i591 being limited by the engagement of the tongue. I53. and the adjustable stop I54. When the selector bar I55 is in position to ac.-

commodate large. records, as determined by the manual: adjustable member 43%,. the tongue: l53

and stop I54 limit the movement of the lever I49 to a position in which the stop lug I60 will engage with the stop shoulder 15s as the tone arm El is moved inwardly to position the same for the commencement of the playing of a record. The engagement of the stop lug with the shoulder I59 will determine the starting position of the tone arm for playing relatively large size records.

When the selector bar 155 is in position, as determined by the manually operable member 48, to accommodate relatively small records, the tongue i 53 and stop i5 i limit the movement of the lever MS to a position in which the stop lug I60 will engage with the stop shoulder l5! as the tone arm 2? is moved inwardly to position the same for the commencement of the playing of a record. The engagement of the stop lug with the shoulder i5! will determine the starting position of the tone arm for playing relatively small size records.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the device of the present invention affords exceedingly simple, yet positively acting mechanism for initiating and controlling the performance of a record changing cycle. Inexpensive means comprising the three-position selector. and reject button its is provided for record rejecting purposes and to control the mechanism for automatic or manual operation. The employment of the positioning lever H4 affords an exceedingly simple and inexpensive, yet positive means, in combination with the lug I on the turntable, for positively determining the release of the latch N35 for the commencement of the record changing cycle. The positioning lever lid, in combination with the lug Hill on the control bar, affords exceedingly simple and inexpensive, yet positive means for latching the mechanism against operation, and, in combination with the lever in furnishes positive latch releasing control.

The mechanism also afiords exceedingly satisfactory and inexpensive means for conditioning the same to accommodate records of various size by the correlation of the stop member I49 with the manually shiftable device 48, the operation of which is necessary to fit the record delivery mechanism to the size of the records being played.

An important feature of the invention is the rapidity with which the record changing operation is effected, the time required being approximately one-half of that required in the device shown in our United States application, Serial No. 564,210 filed November 20, 1944, of which the present application is a continuation-in-part.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of demonstrating the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.. Phonographic apparatus comprising a record disc turntable, a motor for turning the same, a tone arm movable with respect to the turntable, disc changing means for moving the tone arm to a retracted position, for depositing a reeord disc in playing position on the turntable and for projecting the arm into playing engagement with the record disc, comprising an actuating member normally retained in cocked, stand-by position, clutch means operable to drivingly connect the actuating member with said motor for the performance of a record changing cycle of operation, latch means to hold the clutch means in inactive condition, and latch release means for releasing the clutch means to operatively cycle said actuating member, said latch release means comprising latch tripping means movable between operative and inoperative positions, means driven by said motor for periodically actuating said latch tripping means when the same is in operative position, and operating means operable to project said tripping means to its operative position to cycle said actuating member, said operating means comprising yielding normally urging said tripping means toward operating position, holding means for holding said tripping means in inoperatve position, and release means for releasing said tripping means from said holding means.

2. P'honographic apparatus comprising a record disc turntable, a motor for turning the same, a tone arm movable with respect to the turntable, disc changing means for moving the tone arm to a retracted position, for depositing a record disc in playing position on the turntable and for projecting the arm into playing engagement with the record disc, comprising an actuating member normally retained in cocked, stand-by position, clutch means operable to drivingly connect the actuating member with said motor for the performance of a record changing cycle of operation, latch means to hold the clutch means in inactive condition, and latch release means for releasing the clutch means to operatively cycle said actuating member, said latch release means comprising latch tripping means movable between operative and inoperative positions, means driven by said motor for periodically actuating said latch tripping means when the same is in operative position, and operating means operable to project said tripping means to its operative position to cycle said actuating member, said operating means comprising yielding means normally urging said tripping means toward operating position, holding means for holding said tripping means in inoperative position, release means for releasing said tripping means from said holding means, and means drivingly connecting said release means with said tone arm for actuation thereby.

3. Phonographic apparatus comprising 2. rec-- ord disc turntable, a motor for turning the same, a tone arm movable with respect to the turntable, disc changing means for moving the tone arm to a retracted position, for depositing a record disc in playing position on the turntable and for projecting the arm into playing engagement with the record disc, comprising an actuating member normally retained in cocked, stand-by position, clutch means operable to drivingly connect the actuating member with said motor for the performance of a record changing cycle of operation, latch means to hold the clutch means in inactive condition, and latch release means for releasing the clutch means to operatively cycle said actuating member, said latch release means comprising latch tripping means movable between operative and inoperative positions, means driven by said motor for periodically actuating said latch tripping means when the same is in operative posi- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 18 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bennett Aug. 19, 1924 Bauer et a1 Feb. 5, 1929 Collison et a1 Dec. 12, 1933 Winchell Oct. 1, 1935 Rich Apr. 23, 1940 Habegger June 23, 1942 Glaser Sept. '7, 1943 Faulkner Oct. 12, 1943 Cranmer et a1 Jan. 25, 1944 Morrison Mar. 14, 1944 Heins June 27, 1944 Erwood et a1 Feb. 12, 1946 

